INMATES DENIED ACCESS TO BIG BROTHER'S FUNERAL IN CARNARVON
Oakley family at Kings Park - The last resting place of JKO
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are warned that the following article and audio contains stories and voices of people who have passed away.
BY TANGIORA HINAKI
A Carnarvon mother has written to Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia asking him to overturn a decision to not allow her sons to attend the funeral of their brother this weekend in Carnarvon.
Vanessa Oakley received the devastating news yesterday that her sons could not attend from the Superintendents of Hakea and Acacia prisons.
“My two sons that are in custody, they have been refused to attend the funeral for their big brother,” she said. “It’s going to affect them greatly.
“I was heartbroken, It’s so much trauma put on to me and the family.
“I just got told that the superintendent didn't approve it because of security reasons.
“I know that my sons would not ever risk this by doing anything silly or, you know, doing any harm for them not attend the funeral. They would want to be at their brother’s funeral no matter what.”
Ms Vanessa Oakley is grieving two sons who suicided in 2021 and 2023 and believes her sons need to attend their brothers funeral for cultural reasons and to heal.
The Oakley family has suffered with the devastating loss of many family members to suicide.
“Just two years ago, my first cousin Obi, he had taken his life on Christmas day in Carnarvon, and that impacted my sons because they loved their uncle, and he was a good role model for them.
“He taught them about respect. My other first cousin, he passed away just after and just before my son Derryn, through cancer.”
Kaylene Oakley is the Aunty of the two men in Hakea and Acacia prison and helped to write a letter to Minister Papalia that delves into the family’s generational trauma.
“Minister Papalia, It would be much appreciated, if he could reconsider the application for the funeral, because this is a healing process that we need to go through with the boys culturally,” the letter said.
“That’s our way of dealing with our trauma. We’re all hurting here. Jordan going has just impacted us. It’s affected the grandmothers where their health had deteriorated so quick. Going thorough another suicide has really impacted their health. We’re dealing with another loss this morning.”
Ngaarda Media has contacted Minister Paul Papalia and the Department of Justice.